Skipping the Ultrasound

[ATruck]

I'm leaning toward not having an ultrasound during my pregnancy, unless a compelling reason arises. Has anyone else come to this conclusion? I guess I am just curious about people's opinions about it.

hope you are all well!

[autumn_faune]

I'm there with you.

Ever since I learned that ultrasound has hardly been studied, but merely assumed safe (like X-Rays used to be), and that the few indications found so far are that they may alter/inhibit growth at the cellular level- we know it can/does change brain structure.... I haven't been able to stand the thought of having an u/s without a VERY good reason.

[miranda]

I wont be having one this time. I didn't have one with first dd, and I had only one with 2nd dd when I was 41 weeks to check AFI. I dont' see any reason to do it, other than if a medical need should arise.

[whoMe]

me, too
Besides the fact that there's no real reason to do a routine ultrasound, The ultrasound pictures are soooo not what I picture the baby looks like in my head. I'd rather keep my own images than replace them with a confusing black and white mess of dots. Of course, I'm sure if I *do* end up with one, though, I'll totally cherish that mess of dots!

[mother_sunshine]

I'm torn because I want to have one just to make sure everything is okay (I'm 37), and because dh and dd want to know the baby's gender. But I don't want the risks, though many things in life have risks (using the microwave, cellphones, tv,...flying is even supposed to be a risk), so I'm still undecided. :confused:

[tttiggerrr]

I'd wanted to avoid u/s with this pregnancy too, but I can't. My history with an ectopic meant it was really important to have one to check for placement, which I already have. And, congenital heart problems run in DH's family (DD was born with 3 heart defects that have since resolved) so we'll have a 20 week u/s to check for heart problems. I'd love to have gone without having any this time though.

[koofie]

My HMO usually does early ultrasounds, at about 7 - 11 weeks to check placement ect. Does anyone have any information about pros and cons of this? I said I wasn't sure if I wanted one that early (I was thinking more at about 20 weeks) and they seemed surprised that I would even consider NOT having one.

[melissa_745]

I thought about not having one with DD #2, but since both of my kids were more than 2 weeks late, I ended up with at least 5 for EACH of them. UGH!!!

I think I'm going to have one this time for two reasons. First, my DH and I are at an elevated risk for neural tube defects, and I'd like to be prepared ahead of time if this becomes a problem. Secondly, if this baby is a boy, it will most likely be our last. If this is my last pregnancy, I'd like to enjoy it as it happens. If it's another girl, my husband and I can start the debate about whether we want 4 kids or not.

Anyway, I definitely wouldn't get an u/s if you don't feel like you need one. There really is little medical evidence that it has really done anything then made moms worry more! :) However, if it will help you remain calm through the second half of your pregnancy, then I say go for it!

These, of course, are just my opinions and should be taking with a HUGE "remember she's pregnant" grain of salt! :)

[momma2girls]

I had tons with my first two pregnancies just b/c I work in the radiology dept and I could! :innocent However I am planning on not doing that this time and just try to stay away from U/S techs! It is kinda neat though b/c I have pics of my last one from the time she was just a sac all the way almost to delivery! But I am going to stay away b/c of a few things I have read since then and I don't want to find out the sex.

Andrea

[ATruck]

Thanks for all of your answers. Always good to know you aren't the only one with concerns.

arismomkoofie-- I'm not trying to talk you out of it, but apparently you can't tell much about placenta placement this early .. a lot of women have what looks like a low-lying placenta early on, but the problem goes away later on. what I would be nervous about is finding out that my placenta is borderline low (or some other questionable diagnosis), and then worrying about it for the whole pregnancy, ordering even more U/S, etc.
This Mothering article gives a good synopsis of the argument:
http://www.mothering.com/articles/pregnancy_birth/birth_preparation/ultrasound-risks.html

It hasn't been demonstrated that ultrasound is definitely harmful, but it hasn't been shown to not be harmful, either. There really has not been enough research, IMO, to justify doing them routinely. Any technique that alters living tissue should be used sparingly, rather than as a matter of course.
As autumn_faune points out, they used to (as in, in my lifetime) x-ray to find out what was going on in there.

Anyhow-- I'm just discussing, not trying to be preachy. We all have to pick and choose and sometimes compromise on the gazillion issues that there are. I'm still drinking an 8 oz cup of coffee every morning, for instance ...

[Twilight]

I've been waffling about this a lot, since my OB recommended I have an early one and scheduled it for Monday. I guess it is her standard protocol if you have had a miscarriage before.

I'm up and down about it. I don't need this ultrasound. I know why the m/c happened before (blighted ovum) and I don't think it increases my risk more than anyone else's. It's not like they can do anything if they give me the u/s and do see a problem. Plus we'd have to pay for it out of our own pocket... our insurance is high (VERY HIGH) deductible...

But... I really have not bought into this pregnancy yet, mentally. I was planning to ask for a quick check for heart tones around 10 weeks.. just to see if everything seemed OK. The doppler is an ultrasound device too. I was going to get some sort of scan anyway. I'm starting to think the extra cost might be worth it for me to connect with this little bean.

I believe ultrasound scans used sparingly are safe, based on what I have read. I feel OK about one now and another at 20 weeks.

[honeybee]

Hi! I'm crashing from another board; I hope you don't mind!

The main reason I chose not to have a routine u/s is because ACOG does not recommend them for low risk women. A large study has shown that a routine u/s does NOT improve outcomes for baby or mom, but is linked with higher induction and c-section rates, many of which result in babies being born prematurely.

I don't have a problem with the technology itself, per say, but more with how it is used. If I had a dollar for the number of times I've seen the post (more on mainstream boards) "I'm getting induced/sectioned because the u/s shows my baby will be too big" I'd be making some serious money!

[zion]

I'm going to have one at 16 weeks. Only because of what happened with our last pregnancy. Last time they found out our baby wasn't going to live due to a lot of major abnormalities mostly with her brain. I posted the whole story on another thread. If I wouldn't have had that scan I would have gone in for a routine visit and they wouldn't have been able to find heart tones and that would have freaked me out too--no pregnancy has ever gone passed 26 weeks with the complication she had...I was 20wks when we found it. It probably wouldn't have made it any easier. But I am going to be frantic this time until I know everything is OK. There is documented evidence that cortizol and increased stress level are harmful to pregnancies. I would rather have my targeted scan at 16 weeks so I can relax(somewhat) and enjoy the rest of my pregnancy.

If it wasn't for that, I'm not sure. I know that where I work we do U/S on almost everyone for dating at the first OB visit. IMO, I don't know this for sure, but I think it is because we have residents who are "learning" and are trying to do as many as they can for educational purposes. And most of the time the mama's want to see the baby so it's not a problem. If someone is completely unsure of her last period or O date, I think most OBs or midwives would want a quick scan for dates. Other than that if everything is healthy, I don't see the point and I would agree that they are not necessary. I would love it if a mama refused it at our office!! I would love to see the resident squirm!! :lol

[c_something]

My DH and I decided the other night that we weren't going to have one either during the pregnancy! Unless there are medical reasons! I don't want any reason to accidently determine the baby's gender at any point during the pregnancy. :shy

[littlecarrot]

That sounds interesting - not sure about how that all works. I have had a few breast cancer scares and am not sure how a machine that uses radiation is supposed to help prevent it....